Why did Angela Nardello sew pepper seeds into the hem of her skirt before sailing from Italy to America? It was because the one-of-a-kind pepper she brought, now named for her son Jimmy Nardello, has a fresh, fruity sweetness that resembles ripe cherries. With a three-point emphasis on flavor, unique qualities, and ease of growing, Marie Iannotti's beautifully illustrated guide makes it simple for gardeners to grow the non-hybridized vegetables our grandparents ate. Her list, based on years of her own trial and error, includes garden favorites like the mellow "Lacinato" Kale, the fragrant and crisp "Blacktail Mountain" watermelon, the underused "Turkish Orange" Eggplant, and the unexpectedly sweet "Apollo" Arugula.

"Marie Iannotti has given us a guide to growing 100 of the yummiest and most dazzling heirloom vegetables. I dare you to read this and not drool."—Ivette Soler